- The Mother City Fashion Experience kicked off at the Artscape Theatre, featuring 11 local designers’ winter collections themed ‘grounded in nature.’
- The event serves as a precursor to Khayelitsha Fashion Week, which aims to showcase and develop local fashion talent.
- Founder Bongani Matenjwa and designer Sanele Mnyaka emphasised the importance of exposure and investment in the fashion industry.
Lights, camera, and action were the order of the day as the Mother City Fashion Experience started at the Artscape Theatre on Saturday 29 June.
The event is a precursor to what people can expect at the Khayelitsha Fashion Week in November.
The Fashion Week aims to prepare, develop and establish a platform for local brands to showcase their latest offerings and new designs to the wider community.
On Saturday, patrons were treated to 11 local designers’ winter collections, themed ‘grounded in nature’.
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Bongani Matenjwa, the founder of the Khayelitsha Fashion Week, explained it started nine years ago to give designers more exposure to the fashion industry.
“It’s a fashion extravaganza and we want to celebrate local talent from townships. Our designers are from all over Cape Town. The theme this year was grounded in nature, so designers launched their new winter outfits.”
Sanele Mnyaka, a designer from Delft, debuted his Mzukwana Fantoeka designs.
He explained the meaning of his brand name Fantoeka (meaning back in the day).
“I believe that as black people we are meant to be business people but back in the day, there were not enough opportunities. But today we have what it takes and we can go for it.”
New and fresh
Mnyaka added that his streetwear designs are for both men and women.
“My brand is still new and fresh. We only started eight months ago. I am excited that I got to showcase my designs. But it is also stressful.”
Mnyaka encouraged young designers to invest in their products.
“If you are in this fashion industry, you must invest in your business because you might not see it now but at a later stage, you will see it.
“Put all the effort into your work otherwise, you won’t see the results.”
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Matenjwa said their biggest challenge is getting support and called on investors to support them.
“We struggle with sponsorship. It is also a challenge to find a central venue for our models to meet where they can rehearse.”
He thanked all the sponsors who came on board.
